Editorial

Volkswagen Academy shifts to new robotronics program

Volkswagen Academy has relaunched its apprenticeship program with the most comprehensive update since the program’s inception in 2010.

The new program curriculum will address changes in technology and potential new products at the factory.

“Since the beginning, education and training have been core principles of Volkswagen Chattanooga,” says Antonio Pinto, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga. “As our factory and the product lineup grows and evolves, so does the curriculum for our apprentices. The new program will prepare our apprentices for the future.”

This year marked the seventh class from the automation mechatronics program, the fourth class from the car mechatronics program and the third class from the engineering specialist program. A total of 14 apprentices have completed the programs; each received conditional job offers from Volkswagen Chattanooga.

The Automation Mechatronics program will be relaunched as the new robotronics program. The robotronics program will introduce the emerging technologies of intelligent production incorporated with cloud technology and big data to the apprenticeship curriculum. The first cohort of Robotronics apprentices will begin training this month.

“This reimagining of our apprenticeship program is a necessary evolution that pushes our curriculum to meet the needs of a changing industry,” says Nicole Koesling senior vice-president of human resources at Volkswagen Chattanooga. “The curriculum update will be paired with updates to the program’s timing and structure based on feedback from our training staff and apprentices.”

The robotronics program is a dual education program which combines classroom education and paid on-the-job training in one course. The program length is two years.

The robotronics program curriculum is based on Industry 4.0 advanced manufacturing principles including robotic technologies, engineering design processes, manufacturing technologies, IT network programming, cyber physical systems and troubleshooting and maintenance.